For a few minutes yesterday, the public got to laugh with Anthony Weiner instead of at him. At a mayoral forum in the Bronx, the contenders were asked whether they preferred Facebook or Twitter. After a collective intake of breath, it was Weiner’s turn to answer. He looked out at the crowd, bowed his head a little bit, then peeked out from under his brow in a bashful, aw shucks way. The crowd began to giggle with him at the absurdity of it all.

But his smirk just added to the impression that Weiner is oblivious to the profound damage that he’s done to his bid for a political comeback, much less his marriage. It was, after all, less than 24 hours after he stood behind his elegant and accomplished wife who declared her love and support for him, visibly pained at having to speak in public as the sad, sordid details of his repeat behavior were exposed yet again. She was a ‘Huma shield,’ as the tabloids dubbed her. The next day, when Weiner was asked how he was doing after that brutal media encounter, Weiner responded almost boastfully, that he was doing just fine: “I’ve got an amazing wife and child upstairs. I’ve got a comfortable life. This is not about me.”

Putting aside that bit of theater from someone who is notoriously focused on himself, he’s almost right. Because really, the question we’re all asking is, how does he still have that amazing wife? You can hear women all over country saying: “If he were my husband, I’d be out of there so fast. Or, “I’d [revenge fantasy of choice].” Behavior like Weiner’s seems like it would put most people with financial means on the fast track to divorce court. But Abedin’s determination to keep trying despite the seemingly unforgivable behavior isn’t so unusual.

Here’s why: Divorce is rarer than you might think in more affluent demographics. There is gap in divorce rates between those who are highly-educated like Abedin and Weiner (with a B.A. or more) and those without college degrees, according to a 2010 study by the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia. Among college educated couples, rates of divorce or separation within the first ten years of marriage are lower now then they were 40 years ago, dropping from 15 percent to 11, even as rates for other demographics rise. The same report concludes that for couples who have the economic benefits of a college degree or above, and who come from intact families, are religious, and marry after age 25 without having a baby first, the chances of divorce are even lower.

And as a 2011 article in the New York Timespoints out, divorce can still be stigmatizing in some social circles where parents are particularly ambitious about providing the absolute best environment for their children. One mother, a professor, quoted in the piece says that divorcing made her feel “like the ultimate bad mom.” So when Huma Abedin says that her answer to her husband’s horrific behavior is to keep trying, it’s not that surprising. Nobody wants their child to be one of only one or two kids on the kindergarten class list who have two separate parental homes. The language that Abedin used in People in 2012 is telling: “It took a lot of work to get to where are today, but I want people to know we’re a normal family,” she said.

That urge to get back to “normal” when you have a child a powerful one. Abedin’s statements on Tuesday stressing that she made her decision to stay for her son, for her family, are in keeping with the somewhat traditional views of highly educated women. According to a 2010 Pew report, college graduates are among the most likely to reject the notion that marriage is becoming obsolete: only 27% agree, while 71% disagree. (Opinions were split more evenly in the general population.)And when it comes to qualities we want in a mate, being a good parent trumps everything by huge margins in almost all demographics according to Pew. More than 90 percent of women thought that being a good father was a very important quality in a husband while around half thought that being a good sexual partner was very important. Meanwhile, the question of when bad sexual behavior permanently damages the ability to be a good parent is sometimes hard to answer.

Then there’s love. Abedin declared that she loves this guy despite it all. Giving up on someone when you’ve invested so much, or just saying you’ve made a mistake by marrying them when you’ve taken vows and established yourself as a family before your entire community isn’t easy under any circumstances, never mind when a former president officiated at your nuptials, as was the case with Weiner and Abedin. Of course, if Weiner does have an unmanageable compulsion to engage in risky sexual exploits, it’s hard to see how they ever find normal again, or how the marriage will last. But it’s not hard to see why Abedin isn’t ready to stop trying.

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It is interesting how highly educated woman are more likely to put up with serial philandering. Now I understand better how politicians like Clinton and Weiner always going on about college educated woman acting if they are so much better. Average men would rather have a faithful spouse then one willing to put up with cheating, but for powerful men it is different. College is sold to men as a way to get more skills to earn more money or for pure academic curiosity. For woman college is sold as 'empowerment'. This apparently means the opportunity to meet powerful men and put up with anything to increase your position in life. These woman received an education which made them feel their children have a better chance in life raised in an affluent home then raised in an average one with a strong family that presents better values to their children. This, IMO, is a failure of a myopic education system focused on modern wealth. The foundation of humanity has always been based on strong families. It is not necessarily smarter for women to give this up for materialism and consumerism.

Huma's declaration to stay in the marriage is likely a product of political pressure and being in the media. I'm sure she is ambivalent as would be any woman whose spouse is guilty of infidelities, whether anonymous or not. The ambivalence is one of many emotions when processing the shock of marital infidelity. He clearly has a compulsive, addictive habit. I suspect once the election if over (and he loses of course), she will eventually leave him. With respect to the comment, "how does bad sexual behavior damage the ability to be a good parent?" Every day in every way - qualitatively and quantitatively. The addiction robs the family of quality time spent with the spouse and child(ren) while the addict is engaging in lewd activities. Also, it is likely the addict's narcissistic tendencies, denial of responsibility and poor impulse control permeate all his behavior toward his family members

The issue is that this man has not earned and is not qualified for one of the most prestigious and complicated positions in public service. It speaks to his ridiculous level of narcissism that he even had the gall to run. Neither of these two seem to grasp that. Huma is welcome to be a doormat on her own private time, but I'm a New Yorker and I'm really disgusted with how selfish they both are, subjecting the city to having a really empty jerk as mayor.

@arvay Could be right, Maybe she likes to watch who knows, that is her business, But he would be a joke and laughing stock of New York and new yorkers he does not belong in office other then maybe head dog catcher. as for Bloomberg he is a moron too but he will be out too so hopefully they come up with someone who has a little class and less penis exposure.

What can we learn about Marriage through Huma Abedin is that it is a politcal tool meant to further her goals. She and Weiner have absolutely no affection for each other and never did. This was a political arrangement set up by Hillary Clinton, meant to tamp down the rumors of a relationship between her and Abedin in Clinton's 08 presidential run.. Weiner, a jew agreed to marry a women whose entire family are Islamist fanatics who all work as high level officials in the Muslim Brotherhood for the prospect of Political backing by Clinton in his future mayoral run. Abedin, who also worked for the Muslim Brotherhood from college till 2003,agreed to this sham marriage in order to both placate Clinton's wishes and maintain influence and set up her own political goals by benefiting from a future mayoral run. This allowed her to influence American foreign policy in numerous startling ways. Since 08 the US has given the MB almost unprecedented support. Both Weiner and Abedin are snakes and driven by a fervent ideology, Weiner's is narcissism and Abedin's is Power and Islam

Ad hominem attack vs. constructive thought is very disappointing. America has given up to much of itself for the interests of minorities and foreign nationals. Both Weiner and Abedina represent minority causes. I wonder if that's the reason for their selfishness and moral dilemma

if anybody is interested in a primer of Abedin and her well connected radical Islamist ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, Andrew McCarthy from National review has an excellent article out today about this issue titled :

The Huma unmentionables

This women should have never gotten within 500 feet of a govt agency, especially one that deals with foreign policy

This marriage and ensuing circus act has everything to do with power and politics then it does about socioeconomic factors. This guy and his wife are an embarrassment to New Yorkers who care about who are next mayor will be. Weiner's 15minutes of fame are over.

@tricia.cate I doubt that a true muslim would not have married him i do not think she follows the muslim way of life to closely. she married him because muslim men think of woman as 2nd class citizens and are very male chovanistic .

@wbcoleman could be but I doubt it , Clinton was President and Hillary wants to be President this nut Weiner has no chance of that and she knows it. She may have invested so much time with little penis and wanted to be first lady of New York so she stuck by him .

---Time and Huffpost---The only two publications (that I am aware of) that have been bending over backwards to find excuses for Abedin sticking with the Weiner....I'm thinking (cynically, I'm sure) that they are counting on a "Hillary 2016" win, and want to stay on her "good side".........This article is so silly as to be truly inexplicable (i.e. Stay with your pervert, it's better for your kid?").....

What can we learn about Huma Abedin (daughter of a leading MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD Pakistani woman) standing by her serial cheating highly influential JEWISH husband, or Mr. Fareed Zakaria (a COVERT Islamist) staying on in his troubled marriage with a again a well known JEWISH women, or Pakistan's radical supporter/politician marrying a glamorous JEWISH baroness is this.

THEY ALL HAVE A HUGE ISLAMIC AGENDA AND NO SACRIFICE IS TOO SMALL IN ACHEVING THEIR RELIGION/POLITICS INSPIRED ASPIRATIONS.....

And,

What better way to achieve that than FLAUNTING their credentials by having a JEWISH SPOUSE alongside!